Innovative Captive Strategies, a subsidiary of Holmes Murphy providing insurance consulting and management, has announced a strategic partnership with Innovative Program Solutions, a full-service managing general agent. The partnership includes the launch of CaptiveXS, an umbrella excess insurance product designed for ICS captive clients. According to a news release, CaptiveXS was developed in response to volatility in the umbrella/excess market and aims to leverage the risk management and safety track
BUSINESS RECORD STAFF
April 3, 2025
Ben Pullen leading agriculture at Buena Vista University
Ben Pullen is the new director of the Institute for Agriculture at Buena Vista University. Named to the role in late 2024, Pullen brings experience in youth development, education and community engagement, according to a news release. BVU’s Institute for Agriculture aims to foster innovation and sustainability in the agricultural sector while providing students with hands-on learning experiences. Before joining BVU, Pullen served as senior field manager for Iowa State
March 27, 2025
IEDA awards loans to 4 Iowa startups
The Iowa Economic Development Authority board on March 21 approved loans for four Iowa startups, including one loan funded through the State Small Business Credit Initiative. The companies are located in Ames, Coralville, Fairfield and Clive. Ames-based Janas Materials Inc. develops sustainable technology for the coating industry that improves the appearance and application of wood stains. Its product in development is an environmentally friendly additive for water-based stains made by coating manufacturers
March 27, 2025
Iowa Communications Network completes southern Iowa upgrade
The Iowa Communications Network, the state-owned, fiber optic infrastructure, announced it has completed a recent technology upgrade to the southern tier of Iowa. From Council Bluffs to Burlington, the border-to-border effort upgrades equipment at 12 sites to pure-10Gb connections, which protects infrastructure to support redundancy and rising bandwidth demands for public safety, health care, government and education users, ICN said in a news release. The upgrades took place at the
March 27, 2025
FIN Capital Investor Association is hosting an angel investing bootcamp
Women-accredited investors are invited to join FIN Capital Investor Association to learn about angel investing and how to become an aspiring changemaker in the startup community. The event is at 8:30 a.m. on April 10 at the State Historical Building. To reserve a spot, go to eventbrite.
March 27, 2025
Small business owners can receive free financial counseling in Polk County
Polk County, in association with the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, is launching a new initiative where it will connect small business owners to free financial counseling. The Small Business Boost Initiative was created after the CFE Fund, along with funding from the Principal Foundation, awarded Polk County a $90,000 grant. The grant supports new initiatives between small business support services and the Polk County Financial Empowerment Center, which offers
March 27, 2025
Expert on AI, innovation and the future of work to keynote Iowa Technology Summit 2025
The upcoming Iowa Technology Summit will feature a keynote from Dan Chuparkoff, an artificial intelligence educator and innovation expert from Google, McKinsey and Atlassian. In his keynote, “AI & the Future of Teams,” Chuparkoff will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, workflows and organizational structures. He will offer insights on how to navigate rapid change, embrace innovation and thrive in an artificial intelligence-powered future, according to a news release.
March 20, 2025
UnityPoint CTO talks AI, Internet of Medical Things, telehealth
By Lisa Rossi The Technology Association of Iowa interviewed Brett Taylor, chief technology officer at UnityPoint Health, during its recent TechBrew:AM event at West End Architectural Salvage in downtown Des Moines. Tyler Wyngarden, TAI’s vice president of strategic partnerships, facilitated the conversation with Taylor. Here are five takeaways from the March 13 discussion. Eliminating ‘pillow time’ Taylor said he and his team are trying to figure out how to eliminate
March 20, 2025
Partnership announces event series supporting small businesses
The Greater Des Moines Partnership has announced the 2025 schedule for its Top Five for Small Business Series. The event series will feature presentations aiming to help small businesses in human resources, marketing, accounting, sales and other topics. Each event will take place on Zoom from 9 to 10 a.m. Here is the full schedule:
March 20, 2025
Iowa Center hosting panel of Des Moines small business owners March 25
The Iowa Center for Economic Success will host a panel discussion at 8 a.m. March 25 with three small business owners from the Ingersoll and Grand corridor in Des Moines. The event is part of the Iowa Center’s Made in Iowa event series exploring the role of small businesses in connecting communities and building culture. Panelists will include Kathy Fehrman of Oak Park, Mariela Maya of Panka Peruvian and Jeff
